People, Profit, and Planet: How Plenty Mercantile Built A Sustainable Retail Empire

Imagine a store where every product tells a story — a story about where it came from, who made it, and how it makes the world just a little bit better.

That’s the vision behind Plenty Mercantile, a purpose-driven retail brand created by mother-daughter duo Traci Walton and Brittany Matlock. In today’s episode, we’re exploring how they’ve built a business rooted in sustainability, responsible design, and what they call a ‘triple bottom line’ of people, profit, and planet.

Key Insights:

• Sustainable Business is Possible and Profitable: Every product in their store must meet at least one of their purchasing principles (environmental or social impact), proving that businesses can maintain profitability while staying true to their values—it's not an either/or choice.
• Strategic Downsizing Can Be Growth: Closing profitable stores isn't failure—it's strategic decision-making. When they closed their Edmond location after seven successful years, it wasn't because it wasn't working, but because they prioritized long-term sustainability and family well-being over short-term revenue.
• Family Business Success Requires Intentional Communication: Working with family members, especially through challenges like mental health struggles, requires developing new communication patterns and being willing to address triggers and protective behaviors that can impact business decisions.

Resources:

Learn More about Plenty Mercantile

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Credits:

The Uptick is sponsored by Global Payments. Helping you move faster, sell smarter and scale stronger. Stay ahead in the fast-paced world of commerce, knowing we spent yesterday thinking of what you need tomorrow.